The Afghan Industrial Union (AIU) announced on Thursday that the country's printing industry was now self-sufficient and large-scale print operations, whether for books or pamphlets, did not need to rely on any foreign assistance.

AIU officials encouraged Presidential and Provincial Council candidates running in the spring elections to utilize Afghan printing companies for their promotional materials.

Reportedly, all the promotional print materials for the last elections were done abroad at a total cost of nearly 20 million USD.

Although Afghanistan's printing industry is modernized and capable of supplying the country's demand, some industry professionals have said that many Afghan companies still outsource their printing to other countries such as Pakistan, Iran, China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

This business strategy seems stuck in the past as Afghan printing factories like Printing House in the Industrial Park of Kabul are equipped with modern machines like the Computer-To-Plate (CTP), which most neighboring countries don't have.

Nevertheless, there still remain some obstacles for the Afghan printing industry.

"We have the capacity to deliver standard printing services at low cost, but our problem is custom charges and tariffs on raw materials," explained Nawid, the head of Printing House in Kabul. "However, we are able to compete," he said.

Afghan Printing Industry Now Self-Sufficient